Before pursuing my PhD, I worked in a consultancy firm providing assistance in building services, particularly in the area of heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), water and sewage systems. The experience equipped me with the essential engineering skills and provided perspectives of, and insights into, the real-world application of engineering. Although the scope of work was different from my current field of research, the experience ignited my interest in the art and science of manufacturing engineering, especially machining.
My PhD research focuses on improving the manufacture of hard-to-cut materials by applying electric current during the machining process. The application of electric current while machining metals is a potential alternative to achieving an efficient machining technique which would save energy, resources and costs. Through this research, I aim to understand the mechanism that is responsible to ease the deformation of material, in particular metals, when subjected to electric current during the machining process.